Kevin Fenton has joined the Department for Culture, Media and Sport’s (DCMS) Gambling Levy Program Board. This group watches over how new legal funding for gambling-related harm gets spread across research, prevention, and treatment. He steps in at a tricky time. People keep looking at how facts are used and how free the new system will be from political and industry influence.
New Gambling Levy Framework Channels Funds Into Research and Treatment
The Program Board stands at the heart of the legal gambling levy system, which kicked off in April 2025 and was spelled out in government guidelines released in December. This levy takes the place of the old voluntary donation setup, and the UK Gambling Commission collects it as directed by ministers. It has brought in GBP 120 million ($159.5 million) this year, and every penny is set aside to fight gambling-related problems.
The current setup splits money into three areas. Research gets 20% of the total, with UK Research and Innovation taking the lead. They are working on a special research plan to fill in knowledge gaps. Prevention takes up 30% shared between the Office for Health Improvement and Disparities and local governments. The remaining 50% goes to treatment services, which NHS England and its Scottish and Welsh counterparts handle.
Online and land-based gambling companies have to chip in based on what they are licensed for and how much they make. Online businesses and software providers pay higher rates. They need to pay each year by October 1st. The National Lottery does not have to pay because it has its own funding rules.
Fenton’s Role Signals Shift Toward Health-Led Gambling Harm Policy
Fenton, a big name in public health, has made the case before that gambling needs to be tackled as a health issue affecting the whole population. Earlier this year, he helped write an article pushing to stop gambling ads step by step. He pointed to proof that it hurts grown-ups and kids and showed how seeing these ads can lead to risky behavior. Some people familiar with the matter think his spot on the Program Board backs up a public health way of using the levy money.
Meanwhile, worries persist about the way people present and understand data on gambling harm. In letters made public last year, Ed Humpherson, who leads the Office for Statistics Regulation, cautioned that numbers from a government-ordered study on gambling’s social costs were being misused. He highlighted that the links found in the analysis did not prove cause and effect. He also warned that unclear communication could mislead both the public and those making policies.
The government claims good governance plays a key role in making the levy trustworthy. A Delivery Group now works alongside the Program Board to sync up efforts in research, prevention, and treatment. Yearly reports will show how money is spent and what progress is made. We do not know yet if Fenton’s new job will calm or stir up more talk about where gambling harm policy should go.